My Top 50 Revealed (Well, 31-50, actually...)

Well, it’s hard to believe; there are only 4 weeks left of 2012, and that means it is time for me to reveal my favorite Top 50 Films of All Time.  Hopefully, you’ve been following my blog all year long, and these films may reveal a little bit more about me, if you hadn’t picked up anything else for the last 48 weeks.

I have been working on this list for the last couple of years now, never actually have it reach full completion, and as a result of knowing I would be heading to this post eventually, I still have not truly made this list a finite list.  I do, however, believe that favorites come and go, and as new movies enter the realm of the permanent, they, too, may become part of the tapestry know as the Top 50.  I will say that the Top 5 have been in place for at least a decade now, and until ‘that amazing movie’ comes along, these five will continue to hold their places at the top.

So what criteria have I considered when creating this list of films for myself?

Can I watch this film over and over & never tire of it?

Do I know most / or just some of the dialog?

And does the dialog or the subject of this movie creep into everyday conversation?

How do I relate to the film?

Does it have an impact on my life in some way?

Does the direction, art direction, or them affect my life?

It is timeless?

Does the screenplay have laughability? cryability?

Is the cast a cast that I can see none others in the roles?

Are these actors I enjoy watching & consider of other great reputation for other films?

Is the action worthy of the storyline?

Does the score or soundtrack become one for my own life?

These are the questions that rattle around in this dusty corner of which I not only consider my desk’s nickname, but also that hallows of my brain space.

I hope that many of the films I love are films you enjoy, too.  And as I have said throughout the year, I hope that any of these films you are not too familiar will become films you check out on Netflix©, Turner Classic Movies Channel, or some other means.

Here are the films which were considered to be part of the Top 50, but they did not make the cut. 

Honorable Mentions go to (in alphabetical order):

Back to the Future

Being There

The Big Store

Cousins

Dirty Dancing

For Your Eyes Only

The Illusionist

The Jazz Singer (1980)

Oscar

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

Roxanne

The Shawshank Redemption

Some Like It Hot

Splash

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Walt Disney’s The North Avenue Irregulars

#31- 50

#50  - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Richard Dreyfuss appears on the list 4 times. This showing in Steven Spielberg’s story of extraterrestrial life coming to meet us here.

The Competition

#49 –The Competition (1980)

Richard Dreyfuss’s 2^nd showing.  This time paired with Amy Irving as an ‘over the hill” prodigy preparing for one last piano competition.

48 - The Daydreamer (1966)

Based on the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, this live-action / Rankin-Bass Claymation film was made with poor quality effects by today’s standards.

#47 – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Yes! You are reading that correctly.  This tackily humored film is here.  Although I enjoy Ace’s second outing as well, this detective farce makes me laugh and feel so much better if life is bringing me down.  And this is not the only time you will see Jim Carrey on the list, either.

#46 – Somewhere in Time (1980)

I don’t always enjoy the ‘space-time continuum’ mind-boggler, but in this case, any loopholes in that plotline do not matter.  The romance of the late Christopher Reeve & his ‘out of date’ object of affection truly is a sappy, but heart-warming tale of love. The late John Barry’s score is gorgeous to boot!

Table for 5

#45 – Table for Five (1980)

The “father of all tearjerkers” (as I have posted in my earlier blog, “A Good Cry,” November 2) – it had to be on the list.

#44 – On the Town (1949)

Surprisingly, I don’t have many musicals on the list. But you will find Gene Kelly here twice.  Teamed with Jules Munshin and Frank Sinatra, these as three sailors on 24-hour leave start the fun with one of the best songs ever written to get stuck in your head!

#43 – Walt Disney’s Robin Hood (1973)

Although I have touted that Beauty & the Beast is my favorite Disney film, I believe when all things are considered, this classically animated film is my favorite.  Never a dull moment, this laugh-a-minute retelling of the tale of Robin Hood even bests Errol Flynn!

#42 – Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

I’m sorry, Nicholas Cage, but I think you’ve got Richard’s Academy Award on your mantle! This should have been Mr. Dreyfuss’s second Oscar win, but alas, no. Dreyfuss portrays Glenn Holland, a musician whose life takes a strange turn as an educator.  Covering a several-decade span, Mr. Holland sees his ‘want to be career’ and career of reality become one in the same.  Tears all around. Once again, please pass the tissue!

#41 – National Treasure (2004)

Speaking of Nicholas Cage, as a lover of history, this is an action-adventure I can handle! This is the first of two far-fetched scavenger hunts that make my Top 50.

Chocolat

 #40 – Chocolat (2000)

Although this movie co-stars Johnny Depp, the reason that it makes the list is not only due to Rachel Portman’s amazing score, but also for the story behind the allure of the chocolate.

#39 – The Godfather (1972)

Even though I own the trilogy of films on DVD, I cannot help myself from getting hooked into watching whenever it is on television!  Why do I/we love the Corleone family?  This is mafia for goodness sake!  The characters are so perfectly created that we want to know about every – single – one of the characters on that screen. Plain and simple. Pure perfection.

#38 – The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

My favorite David Mamet story. State and Main is a close second; however, it did not make the list. Campbell Scott works so well in this twist-ending film.  And with a co-starring role, Steve Martin is cast in a role you won’t long forget.

Who's Minding the Mint?

 #37 – Who’s Minding the Mint? (1966)

During a film era where caper movies were coming out of Hollywood a dime-a-dozen, this little gem comes along.  Granted, it has some hokey acting, silly dialog, and of course, the most absurd plot possible. But Jim Hutton and this rag-tag group of goofballs (with an early appearance from Jamie Farr) make for an adorable, clean and funny home night at on couch with a big bucket of popcorn!

#36 – A Shot in the Dark (1966)

After the success of The Pink Panther, this follow-up film puts Inspector Clouseau into the starring role spotlight.  Of all the ‘pink’ capers, this one is my favorite with my second favorite in an honorable mention spot.

#35 – The Right Stuff (1983)

Bill Conti’s spectacular score sends us in flight with the heroes of the American space program. It is a long haul feature (3 hours, 13 minutes), but tells the story of the Mercury 7 astronauts in entertaining fashion.  With early performances from Dennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, and Scott Glenn, you cheer, laugh, and cry. You’ll also want to check out a history book or two when the lights come back up!

#34 – The Untouchables (1987)

Brian DePalma broke away from his standard film fare, and puts together the story of Eliot Ness’s team united to bring down Al Capone in the time of prohibition.  Another amazing score by one of my all-time favorites, Ennio Morriconne, brings additional suspense to a movie with great action performed by young Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, and veteran Sean Connery.

#33 – The Quick & the Dead (1995)

This is not the Louis L’Amour story you read in paperback! This film, written by Simon Moore and directed by Sam Raimi brings a different kind of western hero to the forefront.  With his ‘push/pull’ camera technique, Raimi brings us a new breed of spaghetti western.  Another film I cannot resist anytime it airs on television.

#32 – The Good-bye Girl (1977)

Richard Dreyfuss became the youngest male Oscar winner (he no longer holds the title) with his characterization of Elliot Garfield.  The story of two people who are thrust together by inconvenience find themselves strangely attracted to one another.  With Neil Simon’s quick-witted dialog, albeit dated just a bit, and Dave Grusin’s charming score, this is a love story not to be missed. This is Richard's final appearance on the list.

Murder by Death

#31 – Murder By Death (1976)

Deju vu, Neil Simon, here you are again.  For a second time, Neil makes the list with another film written for the screen. This time, he parodies the greatest crime solvers in literature, placing them in a sharp-tongued farce where all dialog leads to laughter! With a terrific ensemble cast of (mostly) established Hollywood actors, even turn to the very end is pure Simon.

Next week:  The Top #16-29 are revealed.